Nikon D5500 review: A good camera, but lacks consistency

Nikon D5500 review: Video

The video mode is a mixed bag. Video picture quality is excellent, with the same flattering colours as in the camera’s JPEGs and crisp fine details that make the most of the 1080p resolution. The Flat Picture Control preset is a useful starting point for video colour correction, with low contrast that makes colours look drab but provides some extra shadow and highlight detail to play with. There’s a comprehensive choice of frame rates, with 10-minute clip lengths at 50 and 60fps and 20 minutes at 24, 25 and 30fps.

Manual exposure is available but the aperture is fixed for the duration of clips. It is possible to adjust the shutter and ISO speed while recording but only via the command dial and not the touchscreen, so the soundtrack suffers as a result. The soundtrack also picked up whirs from the autofocus motor, and focus updates rather clumsily and only when the shutter button is half-pressed. Once again, it’s a decent effort but CSCs generally offer superior video autofocus and better manual exposure control.

Nikon D5500 review: Photo quality – Click samples to enlarge

Photo quality is the D5500’s chance to really shine, and in most of our tests that’s exactly what it did. The 24-megapixel sensor captured masses of detail, and it was faithfully portrayed in the camera’s JPEG output. Automatic exposures were expertly judged, with lots of shadow and highlight detail. Noise levels were exceptionally low, producing print-quality JPEGs all the way up to ISO 6400.

The 18-55mm kit lens was less impressive, though. Photos at apertures around f/8 were sharp in the centre but much less so towards the edges of the frame, especially for wide-angle shots. With the aperture opened up to f/3.5, details were so hazy that we thought there was a problem with the autofocus. Eventually we realised that this was the best this lens could muster at wide apertures. It’s not a disaster but a lens upgrade is likely to be a priority for many people. The D5500 is available body-only for around £610, and we’d recommend budgeting at least £300 on a lens that can do the sensor justice.

^ Exposure is well judged in this high-contrast scene, and detail levels are reasonable in the foreground plane of focus. (1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 100, 52mm equivalent)

^ Excellent handling of shadows and highlights, and fine details are precise in the areas of sharp focus. (1/200s, f/7.1, ISO 100, 82mm equivalent)

^ The dense foliage is crisp in the centre of this wide-angle frame, but the edges are much softer. (1/250s, f/8, ISO 100, 27mm equivalent)

^ With the aperture opened right up to f/3.5, fine details all but disappear. (1/1,000s, f/3.5, ISO 100, 27mm equivalent)

^ Superb low noise performance means the D5500 has no problems with indoor ambient light. (1/60s, f/4.8, ISO 2200, 57mm equivalent)

^ Even ISO 5600 gives presentable JPEGs with minimal grain and plenty of fine detail. (1/80s, f/5, ISO 5600, 67mm equivalent)

Nikon D5500 review: Verdict

The kit lens is a significant setback for people who don’t anticipate buying additional lenses anytime soon. For others, there’s a lot to like here but we can’t help feeling that this camera could be better. The operational niggles would be easy to iron out with a firmware update, but they’ve persisted across numerous updated models. Autofocus in live view and video modes is slow compared to the Canon 700D. Meanwhile, CSCs at the same price offer larger viewfinders, faster performance, superior video modes and smaller bodies. Many come with significantly better kit lenses too. 

If you can find the camera in a good condition for under £400, I’d be inclined to add it to a shortlist, if not opt, for the 700D instead.